Hello birdie!

In recent years, I've come to love birds. I admire them for always waking up in a good mood and ready for a song. In a way, I love that birds always seem joyful and carefree.



I love that they sing regardless of their circumstances and look out for each other. Whenever I throw some bread by the lake behind our house, the first bird that notices it will fly near the bread but before he eats any of it, he will call his feathered friends over as if to say "hurry, there's a free meal over here guys!".



I don't have an actual bird feeder since I am, after all, *the* bird feeder! But I do have a few bird houses indoors in my tearoom for the pretend birds that fly in. :)

This little bird house below was actually the inspiration behind my tearoom. The colors, flowers, coziness. It came from this little $12 bird house, perfect for any single female birdie...



I also like this one with a vaulted ceiling.



But for a family of three, don't you think this one is perfect?



"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song".

- Maya Angelou, American poet



Thanks so much for visiting me. Wishing you many joyful songs to fill your heart today and always!

So long, gingerbread house!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and new year celebration! I did, and I started a new Christmas tradition this year: making a gingerbread house with my son. But, since this was our first year making one, I went the easy peasy route and bought a kit from Wal-Mart. Apparently, we have similar gingerbread house-making abilities because it's hard to tell who did what part!


Earlier this afternoon, it became the last of the decorations that I needed to put away. I actually didn't want to save it or simply throw it away. I thought of just leaving it outside for some bird or animal to come feed on it, and hubby suggested that maybe if it was crushed, the ducks in the backyard lake just might enjoy a taste.

"Crushed? Did someone say crushed?". That's all it took for my little guy to be all over that idea!

So, we went in the backyard and he put down the gingerbread house by the lake. Then he had the best time crushing it!



Now, that looks almost done. And, just in time since a few ducks are quickly making their way toward their sweet treat...


Behind them were these two white ibises who tend to be on the shy side.

Click on the picture to enlarge it if you'd like. I'm always amazed at the beauty of God's creation. :)

Oh, and did I mention Lizzy followed us? Of course, she smelled that we were up to something!


Here's my son throwing some pieces into the lake. And Lizzy knows she can't take it much longer...


The water softened up the gingerbread pieces and the ducks seemed to really like it.



At this point Lizzy thought: "All right, the kid's busy with those quacking things in the water and mom's taking their picture, so here's my chance to eat that chimney!"


After she sneaked in a bite, we left the remaining crushed pieces for other ducks and birds. The two white ibises came over after we had gone back toward the house but they ate none of it. (Beautiful AND smart!)


Thank you for visiting me today. Wishing you and yours all the sweetest blessings in 2009!

Peace

Peace is looking at a sunset and knowing Who to thank.
-Author unknown

Photo courtesy of Microsoft Clip Art